Minihane Anne Marie
Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia (UEA), Norwich, UK.
Norwich Institute of Healthy Ageing (NIHA), Centre for Lifespan Health, UEA, Norwich, UK.
Post Reprod Health. 2025 Jun;31(2):97-104. doi: 10.1177/20533691251341701. Epub 2025 May 30.
The menopausal transition is associated with vasomotor symptoms, disrupted sleep, transient cognitive deficits and changes in mood and anxiety levels, underpinned by declining and erratic estrogen availability in the brain. Relative to other tissues the brain is enriched in the omega-3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic (DHA), with well-defined neurophysiological roles for both eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and DHA. Substantial preclinical and epidemiological evidence along with accumulating randomised controlled trial (RCT) data indicates that an increase in EPA and DHA intake and status is associated with improved brain function. In this narrative review, the role of EPA and DHA in the menopausal transition (MT) is considered. The evidence, although relatively sparse, is indicative of benefit, with future RCTs needed to establish dose-response relationships and when it is most beneficial to intervene. Although research is at a relatively early stage, the MT is emerging as a critical window of intervention opportunity not only to support MT well-being but also lifelong health in women.
更年期过渡与血管舒缩症状、睡眠紊乱、短暂认知缺陷以及情绪和焦虑水平的变化相关，其基础是大脑中雌激素水平下降且不稳定。相对于其他组织，大脑富含ω-3脂肪酸二十二碳六烯酸（DHA），二十碳五烯酸（EPA）和DHA都具有明确的神经生理作用。大量的临床前和流行病学证据以及越来越多的随机对照试验（RCT）数据表明，EPA和DHA摄入量及状态的增加与脑功能改善有关。在这篇叙述性综述中，我们考虑了EPA和DHA在更年期过渡（MT）中的作用。证据虽然相对较少，但表明有益处，未来需要进行随机对照试验来确定剂量反应关系以及何时干预最为有益。尽管研究尚处于相对早期阶段，但更年期过渡正成为一个关键的干预机会窗口，不仅有助于更年期的健康，还关乎女性的终身健康。
